Task Force Tactics Question

[Thadeus13]

Hey Everyone,

I want to start by thanking everyone here for all the great information on the boards. I'm a novice in this game but have learned so much each day from reading the forums.

So, to my question. Last night I started a new career in 1942. I was sailing towards a point in the China Sea to harass the Japanese merchants. Enroute to the patrol zone I happened upon a task force. Not your standard task force, but like, an Uber Task Force. The task force contained upwards of 12 Light Carriers/Cruisers and around 8-10 Destroyers. I just wanted to know, what would you guys do in this situation? I know I'm completely out numbered, but how would I even be able to get close enough to actually send out a salvo against a high priority target without getting detected on the way.

I saved before I actually attacked and I did the following. (Keep in mind that I did this all after watching Legions Noob Guide) I plotted their course and set a course where I would be able to setup for a firing solution. The problem I had was, in order to stay out of the destroyers path, I had to keep a range of over 1500m - 2000m from the nearest contact.

Should I just have let it go and continued onto my patrol area, or should I have adopted a different tactic to confront the Task Force?

Thanks!

[ParaB]

I've encountered such TFs a couple of times. Lots of DDs, several CAs and CLs and some small troop transports.

I always engage them, the escorts so far never posed a real challenge. Just yesterday I attacked such a TF in january 1942, sinking a CA, one of those seaplane carriers, and four transports without breaking a sweat.

I simply placed my boat in front of the TF, let the DD screen pass over me (at periscope depth, engines stopped, rigged for silent running, while a DD passed me at 100 yards distance), then fired my torpedoes at distances between 400 and 800 yards.

And once you're inside a convoy/TF the AI has even bigger problems finding you.


Ah, and welcome to SubSim!

:up:

[clayton]

Well, were you successful? If you could have gotten in their path, you could have set a depth of between 70 - 90ft and let the destroyer screen pass. Then do a slow raise up to periscope depth, positioning yourself while rising to get a good AOB towards the center of the Task force. A full six-shot to a BB or CV, then whip around 90, and 4 torps to a CL or CA. Then I would go deep (300ft), get the hell out of there, and then back to Pearl to drink beer and pinch nipples!!! :lol:

Of course, tactics would change if the escort screen was activley pinging -- a little deeper until they pass actually.

[KodiakPA]

I've run into this problem before. I digress into a story:

My crew and I are headed through the Celebes Sea on the way to the South China Sea in a VERY heavy storm when I get a, "Ship Spotted!" notice. I had sailed into the midst of a large task force consisting of three fleet carriers a couple of seaplane tenders 4-5 large tankers and various heavy and light cruisers and destroyers. Now when I say I had sailed into the midst of a task force I mean that the storm was so heavy I could only make out the other ships at less than 400 yards and my sound fixes were completely screwed. When I looked through the TDC I thought I could make out a large carrier. I didn't realize what I was looking at until I switched to the external camera and looked around. Over the course of three hours I was able to set up on and the three carriers and some of the other heavies before losing the TF in the storm again. This left me six torpedoes for the rest of my patrol. I ended up using the rest of the torpedoes on a medium convoy, sinking only two other ships (musta been hauling cork). Moral of the story, I say take it; you never know when you may get the opportunity to hit it again.

[Thadeus13]

Well, it's a good thing I saved it. I did notice that the destroyer screen drove right by me when I was Rigged for SR and at 70ft with engines stopped. Tonight I'll reload it and actually move in closer, around 800m and see wait there until they come through.